2008 Heisman Watch: Joe McKnight

It’s the most prestigious individual award in all of sports, and Athlon's Heisman Watch spotlights the top 25 candidates to hoist the trophy. USC running back Joe McKnight is next on the 2008 list, which will be released in no particular order.

Joe McKnight is only entering his sophomore season at USC, but he is already being hailed as the next Reggie Bush. The 6-foot, 200-pound running back from Louisiana was one of the top recruits coming out of high school and is expected to take on a bigger role in the backfield this season.

In the 2008 Rose Bowl, McKnight showed flashes of his ability and what defensive coordinators in the Pac-10 will have to prepare for over the next couple of years. Against a solid Illinois defense, he rolled up 206 all-purpose yards, which included 125 on the ground and one touchdown while catching six passes for 45 yards.

McKnight’s performance against the Fighting Illini was clearly the highlight of his 2007 season. Against UCLA and Arizona, McKnight fell just short of the 100-yard mark, but averaged just under 10 yards per carry in a 38-0 victory over Notre Dame. In 13 contests, the Louisiana native racked up 540 rushing yards and three touchdowns, along with 203 receiving yards and one touchdown.

Although McKnight will take on a bigger role in the backfield this season, he’ll also share carries with Stafon Johnson and C.J. Gable. The Trojans also expect McKnight to become a bigger presence in the passing game, which should allow him to top his 23 receptions in 2007.

Why he’ll be holding the hardware: If McKnight continues to display the ability that led the Trojans in the Rose Bowl, he’ll have no difficulty racking up highlight reel plays and easily exceeding the numbers he posted in 2007. It doesn’t hurt that the sophomore back is also running for a school that has seven Heisman Trophy winners and a couple of showcase games during the year. Not only does the September 13th showdown against Ohio State have national title implications, but several potential Heisman candidates will have a chance to make a statement.

Why he’ll be left out: Although McKnight will provide plenty of flash to the Trojan backfield, developing quarterback Mark Sanchez could emerge as a threat to his campaign. The Matt Leinart-Reggie Bush combination finished in the top five two times, with each claiming the trophy once. It wouldn’t be surprising to see either candidate have a strong showing in this race, but it is difficult to have two players from the same backfield finish in the top five. McKnight isn’t the only contender for carries in the Trojan backfield, making it uncertain how many touches he will see in the running game.

Final Analysis: There is certainly no shortage of super-talented players at USC and the McKnight hopes to add another Heisman to an already crowded case in Los Angeles. This sophomore back has a lot of potential and should easily top his rushing numbers from last season. However, his best shot at a Heisman will likely come in 2009 or 2010.

2007 STAT LINE

Other Links:

Athlon Sports' 2008 Heisman Watch
Read the USC team preview
Watch the USC preview video